TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SANSKRIT

PROSE AND VERSE

BY

ARTHUR BERRIEDALE KEITH, D.C.L., D. LITT.

Kanda I

Prapathaka I

The New and Full Moon Sacrifices

a For food thee, for strength thee!
b Ye are winds, ye are approachers.
c Let the god Savitr impel you to the most excellent offering.
d O invincible ones, swell with the share for the gods,
Full of strength, of milk, rich in offspring, free from sickness, from disease.
e Let no thief, no evil worker, have control over you.
f Let Rudra’s dart avoid you.
g Abide ye, numerous, with this lord of cattle.
h Do thou protect the cattle of the sacrificer.

a Thou art the substance of the sacriflee.
b The Raksas is burned up, the evil spirits are burned up.
c The Vedi hath come to the sacrificial straw,Made by Manu, fashioned with the Svadha call.
The sages fetch it from in front,
The delightful straw for the gods to sit on here.
d Thou art impelled by the gods.
e Thou art made to grow by the rains.
f O divine straw, lot me not hit thee either across or along,
g Let me hit thy joints, h Let me come to no harm in cutting thee.
i O divine straw, rise with a hundred shoots,
Let us rise with a thousand shoots.
k Guard from the contact of earth.
l I gather thee with good gathering.
m Thou art the girdle of Aditi, the cord of Indrani.
n Let Pusan tie a knot for thee, that knot shall mount me.
o I hold thee up with the arms of Indra, I seize thee with the head of Brhaspati.
p Fare along the wide atmosphere.
q Thou art going to the gods.

a Be ye pure for the divine rite, the sacrifice to the gods.
b Thou art the cauldron of Matariçvan.
c Thou art the heaven, thou art the earth.
d Thou art the all-supporting with the highest support.
e Be firm, waver not.
f Thou art the strainer of the Vasus, of a hundred streams, thou art that of the Vasus, of a thousand streams.
g The spot (stoka) has been offered, the drop has been offered.
h To Agni, to the mighty firmament!
i Hail to sky and earth!
k This is she of all life, this is the all-encompassing, this is the all-doing.
I Be ye united, that follow holy orders,
Ye that wave and are fullest of sweetness,
Delightful for the gaining of wealth.
m With Soma I curdle thee, curds for Indra.
n O Visnu, guard the offering.

a For the rite you two, for the gods may I be strong.
b Thee for accomplishment!
c The Raksas is burnt up, the evil spirits are burnt up.
d Thou art the yoke.
e Injure him who injures us, injure him whom we injure.
f Thou art of gods the most firmly jointed, the most richly filled,
the most agreeable, the best of carriers, the best caller of the gods.
g Thou art the oblation-holder that wavers not.
h Be firm, waver not.
i I gaze on thee with the eye of Mitra.
k Be not afraid, be not troubled, let me harm thee not.
l (Be thou) wide open to the wind.
m On the impulse of the god Savitr, with the arms of the Açvins,
with the hands of Pusan, I offer thee dear to Agni, to Agni and Soma.
n This of the gods, this of us too.
o For prosperity thee, not for misfortune.
p May I behold the light, the radiance for all men.
q May they that have doors stand firm in heaven and earth.
r Fare along the wide atmosphere.
s I place thee in the lap of Aditi.
t O Agni, guard the offering.

a Let the god Savitr purify you, with a filter that has no flaw,
with the rays of the bright sun.
b Ye divine waters, that go in front and first purify, forward lead
this sacrifice, place in front the lord of the sacrifice.
c You Indra chose for the contest with Vrtra, ye chose Indra for
the contest with Vrtra.
d Ye are sprinkled.
e I sprinkle you agreeable to Agni, to Agni and Soma.
f Be ye pure for the divine rite, for the sacrifice to the gods.
g The Raksas is shaken off, the evil spirits are shaken off.
h Thou art the skin of Aditi, may the earth' recognize thee.
i Thou art the plank' of wood, may the skin of Aditi recognize thee.
k Thou art the body of Agni, loostener of speech.
l I grasp thee for the joy of the gods.
m Thou art the stone of wood.
n Do thou with good labour elaborate this offering for the gods.
o Utter food, utter strength;
p Make ye glorious sounds.
q May we be victorious in contest.
r Thou art increased by the rain.
s May that which is increased by the rain recognize thee.
t The Raksas is cleared away, the evil spirits are cleared away.
u Thou art the share of the Raksases.
v Let the wind separate you.
w Let the god Savitr of golden hands, seize you.

a The 7 Raksas is shaken off, the evil spirits are shaken off.
b Thou art the skin of Aditi, may the earth recognize thee.
c Thou art the supporter of the sky, may the skin of Aditi recognize thee.
d Thou art a bowl of rock, may the supporter of the sky recognize thee.
e Thou art a bowl made of the rock, may the rock recognize thee.
f On the impulse of the god Savity, with the arms of the Açvins, with the hands of Prisan, I pour thee out.
g Thou art stimulating, stimulate the gods.
h For expiration thee, for inspiration thee, for through-breathing thee (I pound).
i May I extend for long the life (of the sacrificer).
k Let the god Savitr, of golden hands, seize you.

a Bold art thou, support our prayer.
b O Agni, drive off the fire that eats raw flesh, send away the corpse-eating one, bring hither the fire that sacrifices to the gods.
c The Raksas is burnt, the evil spirits are burnt.
d Thou art firm; make firm the earth, make life firm, make offspring firm, make his follows subordinate to this sacrificer.
e Thou art a supporter, make firm the atmosphere, make expiration firm, make inspiration firm, make his fellows subordinate to this sacrificer.
f Thou are supporting, make the heaven firm, make the eye firm, make the ear firm, make his fellows, &c.
g Thou art a support, make the quarters firm, make the organ firm, make offspring firm, make his fellows, &c.
h Ye are gatherers, bring offspring to this sacrificer, wealth to him, make his fellows, &c.
i Be ye heated with the heat of the Bhrgus and the Angirases.
k The potsherds which wise men collect for the cauldron, these are in Pusan’s guardianship. Lot Indra and Vayu set them free.

a I pour together.
b The waters have joined with the waters, the plants with sap.
c Join ye rich ones with the moving ones, sweet ones with the sweet.
d From the waters ye are born, be united with the waters.
e For generation I unite thee.
f For Agni thee, for Agni and Soma.
g Thou art the head of Makha.
h Thou art the cauldron that contains all life.
i Be extended wide, let the lord of the sacrifice be extended wide.
k Grasp the skin.
l The Raksas is obstructed, the evil spirits are obstructed.
m Let the god Savitr make thee ready on the highest firmament.
n May Agni burn not too much thy body.
o O Agni, guard the offering.
p Be united with our prayer.
q Hail to Ekata, hail to Dvita, hail to Trita.

a I grasp (thee).
b Thou art Indra’s right arm with a thousand spikes, a hundred edges.
c Thou art the wind of sharp edge.
d O earth whereon sacrifice is offered to the gods, let me harm not the root of thy plant.
e Araru is smitten away from the earth.
f Go to the fold where the cattle are.
g May heaven rain for thee.
h O god Savitr, bind thou in the furthest distance with a hundred fetters him who hateth us and whom we hate, thence let him not free.
i Araru is smitten away from the earth, the place of sacrifice.
k Go to the fold where the cattle are.
l May heaven rain for thee.
m O god Savitr &c.
n Araru is smitten away from the earth, he that sacrifices not to the gods.
o Go to the fold where the cattle are.
p May heaven rain for thee.
q O god Savitr, &c.
r Let not Araru mount the sky for thee.
s Let the Vasus grasp thee with the Gayatri metre, let the Rudras grasp thee with the Tristubb. metre, let the Adityas grasp thee with the Jagati metre.
t On the impulse of the god Savitr wise ones perform the rite.
u Thou art the right, thou art the seat of right, thou art the glory of right.
v Thou art the holder, thou art the self-holder.
w Thou art broad, and wealthy art thou.
x Before the cruel foe slips away, O glorious one,
Taking up the earth, with plenteous drops,
The earth which they place in the moon by their offerings,
Which wise men use to guide them in the sacrifice.

a The Raksas is burnt up, the evil spirits are burnt up.
b With Agni’s keenest flame I burn you.
c May I not brush the place of the cattle, I brush thee that art strong and overcomest foes.
d Speech, breath, eye, ear, offspring, the organ of generation may I not brush, I brush thee that art strong and overcomest foes.
e Beseeching favour, offspring, prosperity, in devotion to Agni,
I gird my body for good action.
f With fair offspring, with noble husbands,
We are come to thee,
O Agni, to thee that deceivest the foe,
The undeceivable, we that are not deceived.
g I loosen this bond of Varuna,
Which Savitr the kindly hath bound,
And in the birthplace of the creator, in the place of good action,
I make it pleasant for me with my husband.
h With life, with offspring,
O Agni, with splendour again,
As wife with my husband I am united.
United be my spirit with my body.
i Of the great ones thou art the milk, of plants the sap. Of thee that art the imperishable I make the offering.
k Thou art the milk of the great ones, of plants the sap; with undeceived eye I gaze on thee for fair offspring.
l Thou art brilliance; follow thou brilliance; may Agni not take away the brilliance.
m Thou art the tongue of Agni, the good one of the gods.
n Be thou (good) for every sacrifice, for the gods, for every prayer.
o Thou art the shining, the radiance, the brilliance.
p May the god Savitr purify you
With a flawless strainer,
With the rays of the bright sun.
q I grasp thee shining in the shining, for every sacrifice, for the gods, for every prayer.
r I grasp thee radiance in the radiance, thee resplendent in the resplendence for every sacrifice, for the gods, for every prayer.

a Thou I art a black deer, living in the lair, to Agni thee, hail!
b Thou art the altar, to the strew thee, hail!
c Thou art the strew,’ to the ladles thee, hail
d To the sky thee, to the atmosphere thee, to the earth thee!
e Be thou refreshment to the fathers, strength to those that sit on
the strew.
f With strength go ye to the earth.
g Thou art the hair-knot of Visnu.
h Soft as wool I strew thee, offering a good seat to the gods.
i Thou art the Gandharva, Viçvavasu (possessing all wealth), the fence of the sacrificer from every attacker, praised and to be praised.
k Thou art the right arm of Indra, the fence of the sacrificer, praised and to be praised.
l May Mitra and Varuna lay thee around in the north with firm law, thou art the fence of the sacrificer, praised and to be praised.
m May the sun in the east protect thee from all evil.
n May we kindle thee, O wise one,
That dost invite to the sacrifice, the radiant one,
O Agni, thee that art mighty at the sacrifice.
o Ye two are the props of the people.
p Sit on the seat of the Vasus, Rudras, Adityas.
q Thou art named juhu, upabhrt, dhruva, loving the ghee, sit on thy dear seat with thy dear name.
r These have sat down in the world of good action.
s Protect them, O Visnu.
t Protect the sacrifice, protect the lord of the sacrifice, protect me that conduct the sacrifice.

a Thou art the world, be extended.
b O Agni, sacrificer, this reverence.
c O juhu, come hither, Agni summons thee for the sacrifice to the gods.
d O upabhrt, come hither, the god Savitr summons thee for the sacrifice
to the gods.
e O Agni and Visnu, let me not step down upon you.
f Be ye parted, consume me not.
g Make ye a place for me, ye place-makers.
h Thou art the abode of Visnu.
i Hence Indra wrought mighty deeds.’
k Great, grasping the sky, imperishable.
l The sacrifice of the lord of the sacrifice is undisturbed.
m Offered to Indra, hail!
n Great light.
o Guard me, O Agni, from misfortune, place me in good fortune.
p Thou art the head of Makha, be light united with light.

a With the impulse of strength,
With elevation he hath lifted me up;
Then Indra hath made my enemies
Humble by depression.
b The gods have increased my prayer.
What is elevation and depression;
Then do ye, O Indra and Agni,
Scatter my foes on every side.
c To the Vasus thee, to the Rudras thee, to the Adityas thee!
d Licking the anointed lot the birds go asunder.
e May I not brush offispring and the organ.
f Swell, ye waters and plants.
g Ye are the spotted steeds of the Maruts.
h Fare to the sky, thence bring us rain.
i Guardian of life art thou, O Agni, guard my life.
k Guardian of the eye art thou, O Agni, guard my eye.
l Thou art the secure one.
m The fence which thou didst put round thee
When thou wast beset by the Panis, O god Agni,
That do I bring here to thee that thou mayst rejoice in it,
That it be not removed from thee.
n Go ye two to the place of the gods.
o Ye are sharers in the remains (of the oblation), well nourished, mighty
Ye gods that are on the prastara and sit on the strew.
Accepting this supplication, do ye all,
Seated on this strew enjoy yourselves.
p I set thee in the seat of Agni whose abode is secure.
q For goodwill, O ye two with goodwill, place me in goodwill.
r Guard ye the yoke-horses at the yoke.
s O Agni, with life unhurt, with not-cool body, guard me this day from the sky, guard from bondage, guard from error in sacrifice, guard from evil food, guard from ill deed.
t Make our food free from poison, the lap pleasant to sit in; hail!
u O ye gods that know the way, knowing the way, go ye the way.
v O lord of mind, this sacrifice for us place among the gods, O god,
hail! in speech, hail! in the wind, hail!

a Ye twain shall be summoned, O Indra and Agni.
Ye twain shall rejoice together in the offering.
You both givers of food and riches,
You both I summon for the winning of strength.
b For I have heard that ye both are more generous
Than a worthless son-in-law or a wife’s brother.
So with the offering of Soma I make for you,
O Indra and Agni, a new hymn of praise;
c O Indra and Agni, ninety forts
Of which the Dasas were lords ye overtbrew
Together in one deed.
d This pure new-born hymn of praise this day,
O Indra and Agni, slayers of Vrtra, accept with joy.
For on you both I call that are ready to listen,
You that are ever readiest to give strength to the eager.
e We thee, O lord of the path,
As a chariot to win the prize,
Have yoked for our prayer, O Pusan.
f Lord of each way with eloquence;
Driven by love he went to Arka;
May he give us the comfort of gold,
May Pusan further our every prayer.
g By the lord of the field
As by a friend may we win
What nourishes our kine and horses;
May he be favourable to such as we are.
h O lord of the field, the honey-bearing wave,
As a cow milk, so for us milk;
May the lords of right graciously accord us
That which drops honey and is well purified like ghee.
i O Agni, lead us by a fair path to wealth,
O god, knowing all the ways;
Keep away from us the sin that makes us wander;
We will accord to thee most abundant honour.
k We have come to the path of the gods
To accomplish that which we have power to do;
Let wise Agni sacrifice, let him be Hotr
Let him arrange the offerings him the seasons.
l What carrieth best is for Agni;
Sing aloud, O thou of brilliant radiance.
From thee wealth, like a cow,
From thee strength riseth forth.
m O Agni, once more lead us
With thy favour over every trouble.
Be a broad, thick, wide fortress for us,
Health and wealth for our children and descendants.
Thou, O Agni, art the guardian of law,
Among the gods and mortals;
Thou art to be invoked at the sacrifices.
o If laws of you wise ones, O gods,
In our ignorance we transgress,
May Agni make good all that,
He that knoweth the seasons wherein he may satisfy the gods.

Prapathaka II

The Soma Sacrifice

a May I the waters wet (thee) for life,
For length of days, for glory.
b O plant, protect him.
c Axe, hurt him not.
d Obedient to the gods I shear these.
e With success may I reach further days.
f Let the waters, the mothers, purify us,
With ghee let those that purify our ghee purify us,
Let them bear from us all pollution,
Forth from these waters do I come bright, in purity.
g Thou art the body of Soma, guard my body.
h Thou art the milk of the great ones, thou art the giver of splendour; splendour place in me.
i Thou art the pupil of Vrtra’s eye, thou art the guardian of the eye, guard my eye.
k Let the lord of thought purify thee, let the lord of speech purify thee, let the god Savitr purify thee
With the flawless purifier,
With the rays of the bright sun.
l O lord of the purifier, with thy purifier for whatsoever I purify myself, that may I have strength to accomplish.
m We approach you, O gods,
Ye that have true ordinances at the sacrifice
What O gods ye can assent to,
For that we ask you, O holy ones.’
n Indra and Agni, heaven and earth, waters, plants.
o Thou art the lord of consecrations, guard me that am here.

a To the purpose, to the impulse, to Agni, hail! To wisdom, to thought, to Agni, hail! To consecration, to penance, to Agni, hail!
To Sarasvati, to Prisan, to Agni, hail! b O ye divine, vast, all-sootbing waters!
Heaven and earth, wide atmosphere! May Brhaspati rejoice in our oblation, hail!c Let every man choose the companionship Of the god who leadeth.
Every man prayeth for wealth;
Let him choose glory that he may prosper, hail!
d Ye are images of the Rc and the Saman. I grasp you two; do ye two protect me until the completion of this sacrifice.e O god, Varuna, do thou sharpen this prayer of him who implores thee, Sharpen his strength, his insight; May we mount that safe ship
Whereby we’ may pass over all our difficulties.
f Thou art the strength of the Angirases, soft as wool; grant me strength, guard me, harm me not.
g Thou art the protection of Visnu, the protection of the sacrificer, grant me protection.
h Guard me from the lustre of the Naksatras.
i Thou art the birthplace of Indra; harm me not.
k For ploughing thee, for good crops,
l For the plants with good berries thee!
m Thou art of easy access, divine tree. Being erect, guard me until the completion (of the sacrifice). n Hail! with my mind the sacrifice (I grasp); hail! from heaven and earth, bail!
from the broad atmosphere, hail! from the wind the sacrifice I grasp.

a The thought divine we meditate,
Merciful, for our help,
That giveth glory, and carrieth the sacrifice.
May it guide us safely according as we will.
b The gods, mind-born, mind-using,
The wise, the sons of wisdom,
May they guard us, may they protect us,
To them honour! to them hail!
c O Agni, be thou wakeful;
Let us be glad;
Guard us to prosperity;
Grant to us to wake again.
d Thou, O Agni, art the guardian of vows,
Among the gods and men.
Thou art to be invoked at our sacrifices.
e All the gods have surrounded me,
Pusan with gain, Soma with a gift,
The god Savitr the giver of brightness.
f O Soma, give so much, and bear more hither.
g May he that filleth never miss of fullness. Let me not be parted with life.
h Thou art gold; be for my enjoyment. Thou art raiment; be for my enjoyment. Thou art a cow; be for my enjoyment. Thou art a horse; be for my enjoyment. Thou art a goat; be for my enjoyment. Thou art a ram; be for my enjoyment.
i To Vayu thee; to Varuna thee; to Nirrti thee; to Rudra thee!
k O divine waters, son of the waters, the stream
Fit for oblation, mighty, most exhilarating,
That stream of yours may I not step upon.
l Along an unbroken web of earth may I go.
m From good to better do thou advance.
n May Brhaspati be thy leader;
Then set him free, on the chosen spot of earth;
Drive afar the foes with all thy strength.
o We have come to the place on earth for sacrifice to the gods,
Wherein aforetime all the gods rejoiced.
Accomplishing (the rite) with Rc, Saman, and Yajus,
Let us rejoice in fullness of wealth, in sustenance.

a This is thy body, O pure one. This is thy splendour. With it be united. Win brightness.
b Thou art the strong, grasped by mind, acceptable to Visnu.
c In the impulse of thee, of true impulse, may I win a support for my speech. Hail!
d Thou art pure, thou art nectar, thou art the sacrifice for all the gods.
e I have mounted the eye of the sun.
The pupil of the eye of Agni,
When thou goest with thy steeds,
Blazing with the wise.
f Thou art thought, thou art mind, thou art meditation, thou art the gift (to the priests), thou art of the sacrifice, thou art of kingly power, thou art Aditi, double-headed.
g Be thou successful for us in going, successful in returning.
h May Mitra bind thee by the foot.
i May Pusan guard the ways,
k For Indra, the overseer!
l May thy mother approve thee, thy father, thy brother sprung of the same womb, thy friend in the herd.
m Go, goddess, to the god, to Soma for Indra’s sake.
n May Rudra guide thee hither in the path of Mitra.
o Hail! Return with Soma as thy comrade, with wealth.

a Thou art a Vasvi, thou art a Rudra, thou art Aditi, thou art an Aditya, thou art Çukra, thou art Candra.
b May Brhaspati make thee rejoice in happiness. May Rudra with the Vasus be favourable to thee.
c I pour thee on the head of the earth, on the place of sacrifice,
on the abode of the offering, rich in ghee; hail!
d The Raksas is enclosed, the evil spirits are enclosed. Thus I cut the neck of the Raksas.
e Thus I cut the neck of him who hates us and whom we hate.
f With us be wealth, with thee be wealth, thine be wealth.
g Gaze, O goddess, together with the goddess Urvaçi.
h Let me attend on thee, with Tvastr’s aid; rich in seed, bearing seed, may I find a hero in thy presence.
i May I not be separated from abundance of wealth.

a Let thy shoot be joined with shoot, joint with joint, let thy scent further desire, let thy savour which falls not cause rejoicing. Thou art a home dweller, thy libation is bright.
b Unto that god, Savitr, within the two bowls,
The sage, I sing, him of true impulse,
The bestower of treasures, unto tile wise friend;
He at whose impulse the resplendent light shone high,
The golden-banded sage hath measured the heaven with his form.
c For offspring thee! For expiration thee! For cross-breathing thee! Breathe thou after offspring. Let offspring breathe after thee.

a I buy Soma from thee, strong, rich in sap, full of force, overcoming the foe, the pure with the pure I buy, the bright with the bright, the immortal with the immortal, to match thy cow.
b With us be the gold.
c Thou art the bodily form of penance, Prajapati’s kind, I buy (Soma) with the last offspring of thee that bast a thousandfold prosperity.
d With us be union with thee; with me let thy wealth abide.
e With us be light, darkness be on the Soma-seller.
f Come as a friend to us, creating firm friendships.
g Enter the right thigh of Indra, glad the glad, tender the tender.
h O Svana, Bhraja, Anghari, Bambhari, Hasta, Suhasta, and Krçanu, here are your wages for Soma; guard them, let them not fail you.

a Up with life, with fair life,
Up with the sap of plants,
Up with the force of Parjanya,
Up have I arisen along with the immortals.
b Fare along the wide atmosphere.
c Thou art the seat of Aditi.
d Sit on the seat of Aditi.
e The bull hath stablished the sky, the atmosphere;
Hath meted the breadth of the earth;
Hath set him in all worlds as king.
All these are Varuna’s ordinances.
f He hath stretched out the sky over the woods;
He hath placed strength in horses, milk in kine;
Varuna hath set skill in the heart, Agni in dwellings,
The sun in the sky, the Soma on the hill.
g Thee, all-knowing god,
Thy rays bear upwards,
The sun for all to see.
h Come hither, ye oxen, strong to bear the yoke,
Tearless, slaying not man, furthering the prayer.
i Thou art the pillar of Varuna.
k Thou art the prop of Varuna’s pillar.
l Varuna’s noose is tied.

a Move I forward, O lord of the world,
To all thy stations.
Let no opponent find thee,
Let not robbers find thee;
Let not the evil-working wolves (find) thee;
Nor the Gandharva, Viçvavasu, injure thee.
b Become an eagle and fly away to the place in the house of the sacrificer which we have prepared with the gods (for thee). Thou art the good luck of the sacrificer.
c We have reached the path
Which leadeth to bliss, without a foe,
Whereby a man defeateth all his foes and winneth wealth.
d Honour to the radiance of Mitra and Varuna.
This worship, this reverence offer to the god;
To the far seeing, god-born, the banner,
The son of the sky, the sun, do ye sing.
c Thou art the pillar of Varuna.
f Thou art the prop of Varuna’s pillar.
g Varuna’s noose is loosened.

a Thou art the hospitality of Agni. For Visnu thee! Thou art the hospitality of Soma. For Visnu thee! Thou art the hospitality of the stranger. For Visnu thee! For Agni thee, giver of wealth, for
Visnu thee; for the eagle, bringer of the Soma, thee, for Visnu thee!
b Thy powers which they honour with oblation,
May they all envelop the sacrifice!
Giver of wealth, impeller, rich in heroes,
Slaying not heroes, O Soma, enter the dwellings.
c Thou art the seat of Aditi; sit on the seat of Aditi.
d Thou art Varuna who guardeth law; thou art of Varuna.
e Be prosperity ours from our friendship with the gods. May we be not severed from our service of the gods.
f For him who rushes on I seize thee; for him who rushes around I seize thee; for Tanunapat I seize thee; for the mighty I seize thee; for the mightiest in strength I seize thee.
g Thou art unapproached, the unapproachable might of the gods, guarding from imprecations, impervious to imprecations.
h May the lord of consecration approve my consecration, the lord of penance my penance. Speedily may I attain truth. Place me in good fortune.

a May thy every shoot, O god Soma, swell,
For Indra who gaineth the chiefest wealth;
May Indra swell for thee;
Do thou swell for Indra.
b Make thy comrades to swell with wealth and skill; with good fortune
may I accomplish thy pressing, O god Soma.
c Desired are riches exceedingly for food, for prosperity. Be right to the proclaimers of right. Honour to the sky, honour to the earth!
d Agni, lord of vows, thou art the vow-lord of vows; this body of mine be in thee, that body of thine be in me. Together, O lord of vows, be the vows of us two that keep vows.
e Thy dread form, O Agni, with that protect us; hail to that form of thine!
f That form of thine, O Agni, which rests in iron, which rests in silver, which rests in gold, the highest, that dwells in the cleft,
g (By it) I have driven away harsh speech, (by it) I have driven away angry speech. Hail!

a Thou I art the abode of riches for me; thou art the resort of the afflicted for me; protect me when in want; protect me when afflicted.
b May Agni, named Nabhas, know (thee).
c Agni Angiras, thou who art in this earth, come with the name of Ayus. Whatsoever unapproached, holy name is thine, therewith I take thee up.
d Agni Angiras, thou who art in the second (the third) earth, come with the name of Ayus. Whatever inviolate, holy name is thine, therewith I take thee up.
e Thou art a lioness; thou art a buffalo.
f Extend wide; let the lord of the sacrifice extend wide for thee.
g Thou art firm.
h Be pure for the gods; be bright for the gods.
i May the cry of Indra guard thee in front with the Vasus; may the swift of mind guard thee on the right with the Pitrs; may the wise one guard thee behind with the Rudras; may Viçvakarman guard thee on the left with the Adityas.
k Thou art a lioness, overcoming rivals; hail! Thou art a lioness, bestowing fair offspring; hail! Thou art a lioness, bestowing increase of wealth; hail! Thou art a lioness, winning (the favour of) the Adityas hail! Thou art a lioness; bring the gods to the pious sacrificer; hail!
l To beings thee!
m Thou containest all life, strengthen the earth; thou restest firm, strengthen the atmosphere; thou restest inviolable, strengthen the heaven.
n Thou art the ashes of Agni; thou art the rubble of Agni.

a They yoke their minds, and yoke their thoughts,
The priests of the mighty wise priest;
He alone, who knows the way, ordains their priestly functions;
Great is the praise of the god Savitr.
b With fair voice, O god, do thou address the dwelling.
c Ye two, famed among the gods, make proclamation among the gods.
d For us be born a hero of great deeds,
On whom we may all depend,
Who shall be ruler over many.
e Over this Visnu strode;
Thrice did he set down his foot;
(All) is gathered in its dust.
f So then be ye two rich in food, in cows,
In good grass, ye that are famous, for man
These two firmaments Visnu held asunder;
He holdeth the earth on all sides with pegs.
g Come ye two then forward, ordaining the offering; bring upward the sacrifice; do not falter; there rest on the height of the earth.
h From the sky, O Visnu, or from the earth, Or from the great (sky), or from the atmosphere,
Fill thy hands with many good things,
Give to us from right and from left.i I shall proclaim the mighty deeds of Visnu
Who meted out the spaces of the earth,
Who established the highest abode,
Stepping thrice, the far-goer.
k Thou art the forehead of Visnu; thou art the back of Visnu.
l Ye two are the corners’ of Visnu’s mouth.
m Thou art the thread of Visnu.
n Thou art the fixed point of Visnu.
o Thou art of Visnu; to Visnu thee!

a Put forth thy strength like a spreading net;
Come like a mighty king with thy retainers;
Hurling thy swift net thou shootest arrows;
Pierce the Raksases with thy keenest (darts).
b Swiftly thy whirling flames descend;
bring upward Follow them, glowing in thy fury;
Thy heat, O Agni, thy winged (flames) with thy tongue,
Unfettered, on all sides spread thy firebrands.
c Send forth thy spies, swiftest in thy motion;
Be an unfailing guardian to this folk,
From him who afar plans evil, from him who near;
O Agni let no trouble from thee overwhelm us.
d Arise, O Agni; spread thyself out;
Burn up our foes, O thou of keen dart;
Him who hath wrought evil for us, O blazing one,
Do thou consume utterly like dry stubble.
e Arise; drive from us (our foes);
Reveal thy heavenly strength, O Agni,
Slacken the strung (weapon) of the demon-driven;
Crush our foes, kin or not kin.
f He knows thy loving kindliness, O most youthful one,
Who hath given furtherance to this devotion;
All happy days for him, glory, and wealth —
Opening the doors of the miser — he hath revealed.
g Let him, O Agni, be fortunate and munificent,
Who with constant oblation, who with praise,
Seeks to delight thee in his life in his house;
May all days be happy for him; be that the will.
h I praise thy loving kindness; loud sounding (thou singest) a reply;
Let this song of mine, beloved of thee, sing with thee
With good steeds and fair chariots may we adorn thee;
Maintain for us the lordly power as the days go by.
i Here let each serve thee readily,
That shinest in the darkness, as the days go by;
Happy and joyous may we attend thee
That dost surpass the glories of men.
k He who with good steeds and rich in gold
Approacheth thee, O Agni, with a rich chariot,
His protector thou art, the comrade of him
Who duly offereth thee glad reception.
l The great I overcome through kinship and my songs;
That hath descended to me from Gotama, my sire;
Pay heed to this song of ours,
O Hotr, most youthful, skilful, friend of the house.
m Sleepless, speedy, propitious,
Unwearied, never hostile, unexhausted,
May thy guardians, O Agni, taking their places here united,
Protect us, O wise one.
n In Thy guardians, O Agni, who seeing,
Guarded from ill the blind Mamateya,
He of all wisdom guarded these kindly ones;
The foes that were fain to deceive could not deceive.
o In unison with thee, aided by thee,
Under thy leadership, let us gain strength;
Fulfil both our desires, O truthful one;
Perform it forthwith, O fearless one.
p With this fuel, O Agni, will we serve thee;
Accept the song of praise recited for thee;
Burn those that revile, the Raksases; guard us,
From the foe, the reviler, O rich in friends, from blame.
I touch the steed that slayeth the Raksases;
I go for shelter to the friend most spreading;
May Agni, enkindled with our offerings, sharpening (his dart)
Guard us by day, from harm and by night.
r With great radiance Agni shineth;
All things doth he reveal by his might;
He overcometh godless and malign enchantments
He sharpeneth his horns to pierce the Raksas.
s Let the roarings of Agni rise to the heaven,
Sharp weapons to slay the Raksas;
In the carouse his radiance bursteth forth
The godless assailers cannot restrain him.

Prapathaka III

The Victim for Agni and Soma

a On the impulse of the god Savity, with the arms of the Açvins, with the hands of Pusan, I take thee; thou art the spade, thou art the woman.
b The Raksas is encompassed, the evil spirits are encompassed, here do I cut off the neck of the Raksas.
c He who hates us and whom we hate, here do I cut off his neck.
d To sky thee, to atmosphere thee, to earth thee!
e Pure be the world where the Pitrs sit.
f Thou art barley (yava); bar (yavaya) from us foes, bar evil spirits.
g Thou art the seat of the Pitrs.
h Support the sky, fill the atmosphere, make firm the earth.
i May Dyutana Maruta set thee up according to the established law of Mitra and Varuna.
k Thee that art winner of Brahmans, winner of nobles, winner of fair offspring, winner of increase of wealth, I close in.
l Strengthen the Brahmans, strengthen the nobles, strengthen offspring, strengthen increase of wealth.
m With ghee, O sky and earth, be filled.
n Thou art the seat of Indra, the shade of all folk.
o May these our songs, O lover of song,
Encompass thee on all sides,
Strengthening thee whose life is strong;
May they be dear delights.
p Thou art the string of Indra; thou art the fixed point of Indra.
q Thou art of Indra.
r To Indra thee!

a I dig those which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, which
are of Visnu.
b Here do I cast out the spell which an equal or an unequal hath
buried against us.
c Here do I overthrow him who equal or unequal is ill-disposed to us.
d The spell is overcome by the Gayatri metre.
e What is here? Good. Let it be ours.
f Thou art Viraj, slaying our rivals; thou art Samraj, slaying our foes; thou art Svaraj, slaying the enemy; thou art Viçvaraj, slayer of all destructive things.
g I sprinkle those which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of Visnu.
h I pour down those which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of Visnu.
i Thou art barley (yava); bar (yavaya) from us foes, bar evil spirits.
k I bestrew those which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of Visnu.
l I pour the libation over those which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of Visnu.
m I lay down the two Which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of Visnu.
n I surround the two which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of Visnu.
o I bestrew the two which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of Visnu.
p The two which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of Visnu.
q Thou art great, with a great pressing stone; call forth to Indra with a great voice.

a Thou I art the expanding, the carrier.
b Thou art the bearer which carrieth the offering.
c Thou art the savoury, the wise.
d Thou art Tutha, the all-knower.
e Thou art Uçij, the wise.
f Thou art Anghari, Bamhhari.
g Thou art the seeker of aid, the worshipper.
h Thou art the bright, the Marjaliya.
i Thou art the king, Kyçanu.
k Thou art the purifying, around which men must sit.
l Thou art the impetuous, the cloudy.
m Thou art the untouched, the preparer of the offering.
n Thou art be whose home is right, whose light is the heaven.
o Thou art be whose light is the Brahman, whose home is the heaven.
p Thou art the goat with one foot.
q Thou art the dragon of the deep.
r With thy dread countenance guard me, Agni; content me; hurt me not.

a Thou, O Soma, art the giver of wide protection from hostility, brought about by ourselves or by others; hail!
b May the active one gladly partake of the ghee.
c May Agni here make room for us;
May he go before us cleaving the foe;
Joyously may he conquer our foes;
May he win booty in the contest for booty.
d Step widely, O Visnu;
Give us broad space for dwelling in;
Drink the ghee, thou whose birthplace is in the ghee;
Lengthen (the years) of the lord of the sacrifice.
e Soma goeth, who knoweth the way;
He approacheth the place of the gods,
To sit on the birthplace of Order.
f Thou art the seat of Aditi.
g Do thou sit on the seat of Aditi.
h This, god Savitr, is the Soma of you (gods); guard it; let it escape you not.
i So, O Soma, god to the gods, hast thou gone, and I here man to man, with offspring, with increase of wealth.
k Honour to the gods I Homage to the Pitrs!
l Here (may) I (be free) from Varuna’s noose; may I gaze on the heaven, on the light that is for all men,
M Agni, lord of vows, thou art the vow-lord of vows.
n May my body that bath been in thee be here in me; may thy body that hath been in me be there in thee.
o Be aright the vows, O vow-lord, of both of us votaries.

a I have passed by some, I have not approached others.
b I have found thee nearer than the farther, farther than the near.
c So I welcome thee, that art of Visnu, for the sacrifice to the gods.
d Let the god Savitr anoint thee with honey.
e O plant, guard it.
f O axe, harm it not.
g With thy top graze not the sky, with thy middle harm not the atmosphere, with earth be united.
h O tree, grow with a hundred shoots; may we grow with a thousand shoots.
i Thou, whom this sharp axe hath brought forward for great good
fortune, uncut, with wealth of heroes, (give us) riches.

a To I earth thee! To atmosphere thee! To sky thee!
b Pure be the world where the Pitrs sit.
c Thou art barley (yava); bar (yavaya) from us foes, bar evil spirits.
d Thou art the seat of the Pitrs.
e Thou art easy of approach, first among leaders; the tree will mount thee, be aware of it.
f Let the god Savitr anoint thee with honey.
g For the plants with good berries thee!
h Support the sky, fill the atmosphere, with thy base make firm the earth.
i To these dwellings of thine are we fain to go,
Where are the many-horned active kine;
There is resplendent the highest step
Of the wide-stepping Visnu, the mighty!
k Behold the deeds of Visnu
Wherein he displayed his laws,
Indra’s true friend.
l That highest step of Visnu
The singers ever gaze upon
Like an eye stretched in the sky.
m Thee that art winner of Brahmans, winner of nobles, winner of fair
offspring, winner of increase of wealth, I close in.
n Strengthen the Brahmans, strengthen the nobles, strengthen offspring,
strengthen increase of wealth,
o Thou art invested; lot the clans of the gods invest thee; let increase
of wealth, let (the clans) of men invest the sacrificer here.
p On the slope of the atmosphere I conceal thee.

a For striving thee!
b Thou art the impeller.
c To the gods the servants of the gods have come, the priests, the eager
ones.
d O Bihaspati, guard wealth.
e Let thy oblations taste sweet.
f O god Tvastr make pleasant our possessions.
g Stay, ye wealthy ones,
h Thou art the birthplace of Agni.
i Ye are the two male ones.
k Thou art Urvaçi, thou art Ayu, thou art Pururavas.
l Anointed with ghee, do ye produce a male.
m Be born with the Gayatri metre, with the Tristubh metre, be born with the Jagati metre.
n Be ye of one mind for us, one dwelling, spotless.
o Harm not the sacrifice nor the lord of the sacrifice, O all-knowing;
be ye two auspicious to-day with us.
p The fire moveth entering into the fire,
The son of the Rsis, the overlord he;
With the cry of Hail! I offer to thee with devotion;
Do thou not spoil the share of the gods.

a I grasp thee.
b Offering to the gods, I seize thee with the noose of sacred order.
c Fear not men.
d For the waters thee, for the plants thee, I sprinkle.
e Thou art a drinker of the waters.
f Ye divine waters, make it palatable, a very palatable offering for the
gods.
g Let thy breath be united with the wind, thy limbs with the sacrificial, the lord of the sacrifice with his prayer.
h Anointed with ghee, do ye guard the beast.
i Ye wealthy ones, do ye kindly I resort to the lord of the sacrifice.
k O broad atmosphere, in unison with the god wind, sacrifice with the life of this offering; be united with its body; extending more broadly, make the sacrifice of the lord of the sacrifice most successful.
l Guard from contact with earth.
m Homage to thee, O extended one.
n Come forward, irresistible, along the stream of ghee, with offspring, with increase of wealth.
o O ye waters, goddesses, purifying and pure, do ye bring the gods; may we, pure and served (by you), be servers upon you.

a Let thy speech swell, let thy breath swell, let thine eye swell, let
thine ear swell.
b The pain that hath reached thy vital airs, that (hath reached) thine eye, that (hath reached) thine ear, what is harsh in thee, what is in its place, — let that swell, let that hereby be pure.
c Lot thy navel swell, let thine anus swell.
d Be thy feet pure.
e Hail to the waters! Hail to the plants! Hail to earth! Hail to night and day!
f O plant, protect him.
g O axe, harm him not.
h Thou art the share of the Raksases.
i This Raksas here I lead to the lowest darkness.
k Him who hateth us and whom we hate, here him I lead to the lowest darkness.
l For food thee!
m In ghee, O sky and earth, be covered.
n Uncut, with wealth of heroes, (give us) riches.
o Fare along the broad atmosphere.
p O Vayu, taste the drops.
q Hail! go to Urdhvanabhas, offspring of the Maruts.

a Let thy mind with the mind, let thy breath with the breath (of the gods be united).
b Be this offering rich in ghee pleasing to the gods; hail!
c May Indra’s expiration be set in every limb;
May Indra’s inspiration be in every limb.
d O god Tvastr, let mind be united for thee,
When ye that are various become of one form;
Over thee as thou goest among the gods for help let thy comrades
And thy father and mother rejoice.
e Thou art fortune (çri).
f Let Agni cook (çrinatu) thee.
g The waters are come together.
h For the whirl of the wind thee, for the rush of Pusan, for the growth of the waters, of the plants.
i Drink ghee, ye drinkers of ghee; drink fat, ye drinkers of fat.
k Thou art the oblation of the atmosphere.
l Hail! thee to the atmosphere!
m The quarters, the Pradiçes, the Adiçes, the Vidiçes, the Uddiçes.
n Hail to the quarters!
o Homage to the quarters.

a Go to the ocean, hail! Go to the atmosphere, hail! Go to god Savitr, hail! Go to day and night, hail! Go to Mitra and Varuna, hail! Go to Soma, hail! Go to the sacrifice, hail! Go to the metes, hail! Go to the sky and the earth, hail! Go to the clouds of the sky, hail! Go to Agni Vaiçvanara, hail!
b To the waters thee! To the plants thee!
c Give me mind and heart!
d May I acquire body, skin, son, and grandson.
e Thou art pain; pain him who hateth us and whom we hate.
f From every rule of thine, O King Varuna, set us free;
From whatever oath by the waters, by the kine, by Varuna, we have sworn,
From that, O Varuna, set us free.

a These waters are rich in oblation,
Rich in oblation is the divine sacrifice,
Rich in oblation he seeks to win (the gods?),
Rich in oblation be the sun.
b In the seat of Agni whose home is abiding I set you down, kindly
for kindness, accord to me kindness.
c Ye are the share of Indra and Agni; ye are the share of Mitra and
Varuna; ye are the share of the all-gods.
d Be watchful over the sacrifice.

a To the heart thee! To mind thee! To the sky thee! To the sun thee!
b Raise aloft the sacrifice; in the sky guide to the gods the prayers.
c O King Soma, come hither, descend.
d Fear not, tremble not.
e Lot me not harm thee.
f Do thou descend to creatures; let creatures descend to thee.
g Let Agni (kindled) with the kindling-stick hear my appeal,
Let the waters hear, and the divine Dhisanas;
Hearken, ye pressing stones, to the sacrifice of me the wise one,
Let the god Savitr hearken to my appeal.
h Ye divine waters, child of the waters, that wave,
Which is rich in oblation, powerful and sweetest,
Give to the gods among the gods,
Pure to the drinkers of the pure, (to them) whose share ye are; hail
i Thou art the dragger; do thou (drag) away the foe of the waters.
k I draw you for the sustenance of the waters.
l That mortal, O Agni, whom thou hast helped in the battles,
Whom thou hast strengthened in the contest for booty,
He winneth I abiding strength.

a Thou, O Agni, art Rudra, the Asura of the mighty sky,
Thou art the host of the Maruts, thou art lord of food;
Thou farest with ruddy winds, blessing the household;
Thou, as Pasan dost, protectest thy worshippers with thyself.
b Rudra, king of the sacrifice,
True offerer, priest of both worlds,
Agni before the dreadful thunder,’
Of golden colour, win ye for help.
c Agni hath set him down as priest, good sacrificer,
On the lap of his mother, in the fragrant place,
The youthful, the wise, pre-eminent among men, righteous,
Supporter of the folk in whose midst he is kindled.
d Good hath he made our sacrifice this day;
The hidden tongue of the sacrifice have we found
He hath come, fragrant, clothed in life;
He hath made our sacrifice this day to prosper.
e Agni hath cried like Dyaus thundering,
Licking the earth, devouring the plants;
Straightway on birth he shone aflame;
He blazeth with his light within the firmaments.
In thee, O many-faced sacrificer,
Morning and evening, the sacrificers place their treasures,
In whom, purifying, good things are placed, even as the heaven and earth (support) all beings.
g To thee, best of Angirases,
All folk with fair dwellings severally,
O Agni, have turned to gain their wish.
h May we win by thy help, O Agni, our wish,
Wealth with fair offspring, O wealthy one:
May we win booty, seeking for booty;
May we win, O deathless, undying glory.
i O Agni, of the Bharatas, youngest,
Bear to us excellent, glorious wealth,
O bright one, wealth which many desire.
k White robed is he, thundering, standing in the firmament.
Youngest, with loud-sounding immortal ones,
Who, purifying, most manifold,
Agni, marcheth devouring many broad (forests).
l May he give thee life on every side,
Agni here, the desirable.
Let thy breath come back to thee;
I drive away the disease from thee.
m Giving life, O Agni, rejoicing in the oblation
Be thou faced with ghee, and with birthplace of ghee
Having drunk the ghee, the sweet, the delightful product of the cow,
As a father his son, do thou protect him.
n To thee, the eager one,
O knower of all, O active one,
Agni, I offer this fair praise.
o From the sky was Agni first born,
From us secondly he who knoweth all,
In the waters thirdly the manly;
The pious man singeth of him, the undying, as he kindleth him.
p Pure, O purifying one, to be lauded,
O Agni, mightily thou shinest,
To whom offering is made with ghee.
q Shining like gold, he hath become widely resplendent,
For glory shining with immortal life;
Agni became immortal in his strength,
What time prolific Dyaus begat him.
r What time his glory urged the lord to strength,
Then (did) Dyaus (let) the pure seed be sprinkled openly;
Agni begot the host, the blameless, the youthful,
The worshipping, and gave it impulse.
s He (flourishes) with keener mind, aided by thee.
O giver! give (us wealth) in good offspring;
O Agni, may we enjoy wealth richest in heroes;
(Wealth) that is excellent, uttering praises to thee.,’
t O Agni, bring us strong wealth,
By the force of thy glory,
That is above all men
And openly prevaileth in contests for booty.
u O Agni, mighty one, bring to us
That wealth which prevaileth in contests;
For thou art true, wondrous,
The giver of booty of kine.
v To Agni let us make service with hymns,
Who feedeth on bull and cow,
The disposer, backed with Soma.
w For thou art, O son, a singer, seated at the feast;
Agni made at birth a path and food;
Do thou, O giver of strength, bestow strength upon us;
Be victorious like a king; thou rulest within without a foe.
x O Agni, thou purifiest life;
Do thou give food and strength to us;
Far away drive ill-fortune.
y O Agni, good worker, purify for us
Glory in good heroes;
Giving increase and wealth to me.
z O Agni the purifying, with thy light,
O god, with thy pleasant tongue,
Bring hither the gods and sacrifice.
aa Do thou, O shining and purifying one,
O Agni, bring hither the gods
To our sacrifice and our oblation.
bb Agni, of purest vows,
Pure sage, pure poet,
Shineth in purity, when offering is made.
cc O Agni, thy pure,
Bright, flaming (rays) arise,
Thy lights, thy flames.

Prapathaka IV

The Soma Cups